Always great to see an abandoned rail line being re-opened. And since early 2004 Downeast Scenic Rail has been busily doing just that. The Maine Central RR's Bar Harbor branch, built as The Maine Shoreline Railroad in 1884, was abandoned by the MEC in 1985 and purchased by the State of Maine.

All photos: Larry Fickett. More info at: www.downeastscenicrail.org

Ditching at Washington Junction

Unloading relay rail for rehab projects

Building new track panel for crossing rehab

Wyman Rd crossing: Before

New panel being set

Temporary crossing planks in place

First motorcar ride over opened crossing

My parents used to live in Machias, incredible secenery along the ROW. Is the state of Maine still going to rip up the tracks? What a motorcar ride that would be!




Win

Downeast Scenic's website has just been updated and includes MANY more new photos!
www.downeastscenicrail.org

These people are doing a great job, and it's all volunteer work. The DESRR has an ancient outside frame wooden boxcar (ex-MEC, ex-B&ML) as well as a flatcar donated by the state.
The state of Maine, for some ungodly reason, is determined to rip up the rest of the line beyond Ellsworth and on to Calais as a ski/snowmobile/four-wheeler trail. They have gotten it into their heads that removing the rails is going to be an economic boom to Washington County, which is Maine's poorest. It does not occur to anyone that the extremely scenic line could be the backbone of a tourism revival that would spark all kinds of business and entrepreneurial enterprise along the route. Even if the major purpose of the renewed railroad was to haul sand and gravel from downeast, think of the traffic it would remove from our light usage coastal highways.

Our trail does not allow any motorized vehicles and I believe that is a mandate of the federal program. And rightfully so. We still have creeps that sneak on the trail in their four wheelers and they do tear up the trail. And steal stuff! They stole our trailer out of the yard. The police followed their tire tracks until they went into the woods. And motorcycles are worse because they feel the need to do burnouts in the dirt which chews up the trail badly. Trails should be limited to walking, jogging and bicycling.

Later!
Mr. Ed

These guys are the classic "doing what many said couldn't be done" They don't have anything moving yet, but if they keep this pace and determination it won't be long.

Too bad the State of Maine isn't helping them, it's the first excursion rail project that will be in a significant market (Rockland Branch isn't excursion, they call it that because waiting to be a bride to Amtrak means your only a bridesmaid) and could return substantial $$ to the state and local economies.

But alas, common sense and the State of Maine never should be used in the same sentence.

CB

"The 2007 season on the Downeast Scenic was a productive season for us, as you can see by the pictures from the links listed below and previous posts. Were it not for the cooperation by MDOT, our dedicated volunteers and the generous donations made from our many members, we would not be anywhere near our goals for this year.
Next year we plan to rebuild 3 more grade crossings, reactivate 2 crossing signals and begin replacing switch timbers between Washington Junction and Ellsworth Falls. Tie replacement is scheduled to begin later this year, too. We hope to bring in some rolling stock by early fall."
Leverett Fernald
Vice president, Rail Superintendent
Downeast Scenic Railroad


http://www.downeastscenicrail.org/
http://www.downeastscenicrail.org/wyman ... ection.htm
http://www.downeastscenicrail.org/wymanroadpictures.htm[/url]